Board of Directors

Debbie Cochrane

California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education

President

2025 – 2026

Debbie Cochrane is the Bureau Chief of California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, which authorizes 1,800 private institutions and associated locations in California and is home to the state Office of Student Assistance and Relief. Cochrane is also an appointed member of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, a federally authorized committee responsible for providing recommendations to the U.S. Department of Education in its oversight of accrediting agencies that monitor the academic quality of postsecondary institutions and programs.

Cochrane has represented state higher education authorizing agencies in the U.S. Department’s development of program integrity regulations including gainful employment, financial responsibility, and administrative capability. She is also an inaugural Governing Board member of California’s Cradle-to-Career system, a statewide data system to help students reach their goals and deliver information on education and workforce outcomes.

Prior to her appointment as Bureau Chief, Cochrane was the executive vice president of The Institute for College Access & Success, a nonprofit organization focused on pursuing student-centered public policies that promote affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education. Her career includes service in research, direct service, and management roles within a variety of nonprofit settings. Cochrane holds an MSW with a focus on social policy from San Francisco State University and a BA from the University of Michigan.

This is her second term on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

John Ware

Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools

Vice President

2025 – 2026

John Ware has served as Executive Director of the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools since 1997 and is responsible for the oversight and regulation of Ohio’s 230 career colleges and schools. In addition to the Board’s general oversight responsibilities, John is responsible for drafting and implementing Ohio’s rules and regulations governing career colleges including academic standards, admissions standards, and regulations governing the recruitment and solicitation of students.

Prior to joining the Board of Career Colleges and Schools, John served as an Ohio Assistant Attorney General for education, providing legal counsel to numerous state education agencies including the Ohio Board of Regents and the Ohio Department of Education. While serving as an Assistant Attorney General, John was responsible for the implementation and prosecution of administrative enforcement actions against state licensed teachers, private elementary and secondary schools, as well as licensed career colleges. John received his Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University.

John is also active on many state and national education organizations and previously served as President of NASASPS from 2009-2015. This is his third term on the NASASPS Board of Directors since serving previously as President and Treasurer.

Maggie Rivers

Deputy Director and SARA Coordinator for the Georgia Nonpublic
Postsecondary Education Commission

Director

2025 – 2026

Magda Rivers serves as the Deputy Director and SARA Coordinator for the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission. She has been with the agency for almost 10 years in various compliance and leadership roles and has been actively involved in developing compliance best practices and procedures, legislation and policymaking processes, agency communications, strategic planning initiatives, and agency operations.

This is her second term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

Crystal Puderbaugh

Kansas Board of Regents

Director

2025 – 2026

Ms. Crystal Puderbaugh is the Director for Academic Affairs with the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR). In her current position, she provides leadership to the private and out of state postsecondary education (PPS) division of KBOR, a fee-funded unit responsible for the oversight and approval process for any private or out-of-state postsecondary education institution wishing to operate within the state of Kansas. Ms. Puderbaugh’s responsibilities also include the management of the division budget and analysis of operating activities to ensure the division operational goals are met. She is a graduate of Washburn University, Friends University and is currently in the dissertation phase of the Doctorate of Educational Administration program at Kansas State University. Ms. Puderbaugh has served on the NASASPS Board of Directors previously in the following roles: President 2019-present Vice President 2018-2019, Treasurer 2017-2018, Director 2015-2017.

This is her second term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

Kim Verneuille

Director of the Commission on Proprietary Schools & College Registration

Director

2025 – 2026

Dr. Kim Verneuille is a seasoned leader in higher education administration and regulatory compliance, currently serving as the Director of the Commission on Proprietary Schools & College Registration (CPSCR) for the State of Mississippi. In this capacity, she oversees the regulation and support of 75 career education institutions, ensuring adherence to state standards and promoting student success.

In addition to her role at CPSCR, Dr. Verneuille serves as the Methods of Administration (MOA) Coordinator for the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB). In this role, she develops and maintains agency documents and manuals related to the Methods of Administration, ensuring compliance and effective implementation across the state’s 15 community colleges.

Prior to her current position, Dr. Verneuille was the Academic Dean at an online career college, where she was instrumental in launching the college’s online education program. Her extensive experience also includes ten years as a teacher and department chair, reflecting her deep commitment to education and leadership.

Dr. Verneuille holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Middle Tennessee State University and an Associate of Science in Graphic & Web Design from Antonelli College. She earned both her Master of Education and Doctorate in Educational Technology from the University of Phoenix.

This is her first term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

Sean Seepersad

Connecticut Officer of Higher Education

Director

2025 – 2026

Sean Seepersad, Ph.D. is the Division Director of the Academic Affairs Division in the Connecticut Office of Higher Education (OHE). The division he manages has regulatory oversight over private institutions of higher education (IHEs) and private career schools. The division also oversees the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) and authorization of out-of-state schools and institutions. The state approving agency (SAA) for institutions and programs utilizing veteran’s benefit is also within the division. At OHE Sean has worked on improving equity and access at IHEs, postsecondary education legislative and regulatory reform, outreach efforts to students and administrative officials, and technology improvements. He also works with Connecticut IHEs and related regulatory entities. Currently he serves as the chair of the Regional Steering Committee of N-SARA. He has an applied PhD from the University of Illinois in Human Development and Family Studies.

This is his first term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.